Big 12 calling for Centex Tackle
Round Rock (Texas) offensive tackle Robert Castaneda earned first-team all-district and stands in at 6-5, 300 pounds, but following the season he flew under the recruiting radar.
Then he went to The Woodlands, Texas for the Nike SPARQ Combine and posted the highest SPARQ rating of any lineman in the country. On the day Castaneda ran a 5.38 40-yard dash and a 4.78 shuttle, he had a 41-foot powerball toss, and 25-inch vertical leap to register a 91.14 on the SPARQ scale.
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Now recruiting has picked up and the offers are beginning to roll in.
"Yeah, I'm just happy," Castaneda said. "I'm trying to work hard for them and trying to get my name out there lately. About a month ago no one really knew who I was. Then when I went to the Nike SPARQ Combine everything started to shoot up."
Both offers are from BCS programs and both have come in the past two days.
"So far I just received an offer from Kansas State last night, and I got off the phone with Texas Tech about two hours ago and they offered me," Castaneda said. "Those are really the two schools who have been on me for awhile."
He has already taken in junior day events and UTSA and Kansas State. Last week he made the trip to Manhattan, Kan., and his visit to the Little Apple definitely stands out in his mind. There were a few aspects of the visit that really struck him.
"The way the coaching staff was and the way everyone treated me and the town and the school," Castaneda said.
Next up for Castaneda is a trip to Houston for the Rivals Camp Series at Spring Westfield High School on Saturday. He already has the combine numbers, and he is looking forward to showing he is more than numbers.
"I'm definitely ready to show out and prove myself against anybody," Castaneda said. "I'm definitely not scared. I'll take on the challenge of anyone."
He will then attend the Nike Football Training Camp in Dallas, and when asked if he planned to take a visit to Lubbock he had an answer ready.
"For sure, I'm supposed to make a plan with the coach from Texas Tech to come out during spring," Castaneda said.
The last few weeks have been full of opportunity and excitement. There have been camp invitations and scholarship offers, and it is easy to understand why it might be hard for Castaneda to hide his smile.
"It amazes me," Castaneda said. "It's really unexpected and happening so fast. I feel pretty proud of myself I guess."